Cautery handle



IVIay 14, 1940. w, A, ARNESEN `2,200,322

CAUTERY HANDLE Filed Aug. l5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /hnATTORNEYS May 14,1940 w. A. ARNESEN 2.200.322

CAUTERY HANDLE Filed Aug.' l5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L/ 1NVENTOR.

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,200,322 CAUTERYHANDLE Walter A. Ameisen, New York, N. Y.

Application leugnet l5, i936, Serial No. 96,l59

' e marmi. (ci. rsa-mari) This invention relates to improvements in hamdles for surgical instruments and more particularly to improvements incautery handles.

An object ci the `present invention is to provide a cautery handle oisuch construction as to accommodate itself most readily to the grip i auser and at the same time to have incor porated therein novel featuresand advantages.

Another object or the invention is to provide a cautery handle of suchconstruction as to be capable of holding a cautery electrode in a numberoi.' selected relative positions.

Another object oi' the invention is to provide a cautery handle oi' suchconstruction as to accommodate a source of light rays therein inposition to illuminate the part of the body being treated in any of therelative positions oi vthe cautery electrode,

Aiurther object of the invention is to provide a cautery handle havingincorporated therein switch mechanism conveniently operable togetherwith means for locking such switch mechanism in Contact closingposition. l

In carrying out the foregoing and other objects of the invention, acautery handle is made of some molded material preferably some materialhaving good velectric insulating properties. The handle in the preferredform is made of two complemental parts which, when connected together,resemble the handle of a pistol, such form being selected on account ofits adaptability to the hand grip of the user. This handle has securedtherein electric socket members for receiving the prongs of a cauteryelectrode. The

socket members are so disposed as to retain a cautery electrode in anumber of positions, in the present instance, two positions which aresubstantially at right angles to each other. The handle is also providedwith a further cavity in which may be secured a socket member carrying asource of light rays. The further cavity is so positioned relative tothe electric sockets that a source of light rays properly held by thehandle will direct rays toward the end of an electrode held by thehandle. Switch mechanism is provided within the handle and an operatingmember somewhat resembling a trigger is secured to the handle foractuating such mechanism. Since in practice it is sometimes desirable touse the electrode energized over a considerable period of time, lockingmeans are provided for l locking the switch mechanism in contact closingAthe following detailed description of the accom-f Fig. 3 is a plan viewof one of the complemen-- tal parts ofthe handle with internal partsthereof in position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view oi the other complemental part of the handle.

Fig. 5 is a section substantially taken on the line -ii of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 6-t of Fig. l.

Fig. 'l' is a view of one of vthe combined socket and terminal members.

Fig. S is a similar view of the other of such members, and

Fig. 9 is a view of the switching locking member.

Referring now to the drawings, III indicates generally a handle made inaccordance with the present invention and comprising complementalmembers II and I2. These members are made of some suitable materialpreferably a material having good electric insulating properties andalso a material capable of being molded in the desired form. In practiceit has been found that a phenol condensation product serves admirably inall respects. The two complemental members II and I2 are held togetherby means of screws I 4 passing through apertures in the member H intothreaded engagement with the walls of apertures in the member I2. Thetwo members II and I2 are provided with cavities I5 and Il' whichcooperate to form an opening I6 for the reception of a tubular member I1having a source of light rays I8 secured in one end thereof. 'I'hemembers II and I2 areprovided with cavities for the reception of theother parts making up the assembly.

These parts are shown separately in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. The member shownin Fig. '7l comprises a double socket arrangement preferably made from asingle piece of metal having good electrical conducting properties. Asshown in the drawings, this member comprises a socket made up of twostrips of material bent back t0 i'orm a split substantially tubularsleeve. A second socket 2i of similar construction is connected iii tothe socket 2li by an integral strip 22. Extending from the socket 2I isan elongated contact member` 24. This part 24 has a definite shapeimparted thereto for reasons to be explained hereinafter. Anotherelement in the construction comprises a socket 25 similar to the sockets20 and 2l and having a contact extension 28 also of a predeterminedconguration. In Fig. 9, a member has been shown,-such member having thefunction of locking switch mechanism in place. A still'further elementoi the assembly comprises a terminal member 32 (Fig. 3).

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the member Il has a cavitytherein so shaped that a wall 34 divides part of the cavity into twochambers 35 and 36. These chambers are located in the barrel part 3l oithis member. The angular extending part oi the cavity is divided by awall 33. In use, the member shown in Fig, 8 is positioned in the cavitywith the socket 25 located in the chamber 35. On account of the extralength of socket 25 a clip 39 is positioned partly therearound as shownto impart added resiliency to such socket. The member shown in Fig. '1is also located in the cavity on the opposite side of the wall 38 withthe socket 2| positioned in the chamber 36. When this member has been sopositioned. the socket .2li will be located above the socket 25 andspaced a distance therefrom approximately equal to the distance betweenthe sockets 2l and 25. The member 32, as shown in the drawings, has asubstantially U-shaped portion 40 which fits around the end of a wall ilintruding into the cavity of the member II with a part of the member 32positioned between this wall and the end of wall 38. The fit is of suchgood frlctional character as to hold member 32 in place. When the partsare so located, the end of the extension 2li is spaced a slight distancefrom one end of the member 32.

The two members il and I2 are provided with arc shaped openings i5 and45' which combine to provide a passageway for electrical conductors 46and 41. One of the conductors 46 is secured to the extension 26 whilethe other conductor 41 is secured to one end of the member 32. Recesses5D and 5i extend through the end of the barrel part 31 intocommunication with the chambers 35 and 36 respectively. These recesses50 and 5I are so positioned as to be substantially coaxial with thesockets 25 and 2I respectively which'are positioned in the two chambers.

The member I2 is likewise provided with cavities to properly registerwith the cavity of the member Il and the other elements positioned inthis member. Thus, the member I2 has a cavity 52 shaped and positionedto receive the socket 20. A recess 54 is provided in the end of thebarrel part 31' of member I2, such recess extending into the chamber 52and being substantially coaxial with the socket 20 when the two parts IIand I2 are assembled.

Parts of the front walls of the members II and I2 are cut away toprovide an opening for the reception of a substantially ilattrigger-like switch actuator 55. This member 55 is held in assembly bymeans of pins 56 extending from the opposite sides thereof and fittinginto recesses in the walls of the .two parts II and I2. When the member55 is in proper position, one edge thereof bears against the extension24 as shown in Fig. 3. This extension 24 is preferably of metal havingsufiicient resiliency so that normally the parts are held in therelation shown in Fig. 3. Since member 55 is mounted for limited pivotalmovement. it follows that this member can be moved to force extension 24against a part of the member 32, thereby closing an electrical circuit.The opposite edge of member 55 is shaped as shown at 51 to fit thefingers of a user.

Since it is sometimes desirable to lock the switch mechanism comprisingthe parts 24 and 32 in circuit closing position, the locking member 3Bis slidably mounted in suitable slots in the two parts II and I2. Themember 55 is provided with a slot 58 into which the oilset part 59 ofmember 30 can fit when member E55 has been moved to circuit closingposition. A tab t@ of member 30 extends through an opening 3i providedin the handle by two cooperating recesses in the members II and i2. Thistab BIJ is available for manipulation by the user.

The rear edges of the two members li and l2 are cut away to provide achannel 32 which extends from the through opening I3 to the end of thestock portion of the handle. The parts il and I2 are provided near thelower end of the stock portion of each thereof with matched recesses E#and which serve to receive a metal spring clip. The channel 62 serves toreceive a cable 66 supplying current to the source of light rays I8while the clip positioned in the recesses 34 and 65 serves to hold thiscable in the recess 62.

Since one of the conductors 46 is in electrical contact with the socket25, it follows that this socket serves as a common socket for completinga circuit with either of the sockets 20 or 2l. These two sockets 2B and2i are in effect in parallel since the other conductor 41 becomeselectrically connected thereto whenl the extension 24 is brought intocontact with the terminal 32 to which conductor" is attached. In usethere" fore a cautery electrode having two prongs can be secured to thehandle in either one of two positions. If desired, one prong of theelectrode can be inserted through opening 5U into the socket 25 whilethe other prong can be simultaneously inserted through opening 54 intothe socket 20. Under these circumstances, the socket 2I is idle. Ifdesired. however, the cautery electrode can be arranged at right anglesto this first position by simultaneously inserting the prongs thereofthrough the openings 50 and 5I into the sockets 25 and 2l respectively.

With an electrode in either one of the two positions, the energizingcircuit. therefore, can be closed by moving the trigger-like member 55rearwardly until extension 24 contacts with terminal 32. If theoperation to be performed by the electrode requires any length of time,the trigger member 55 can be locked in contact closing position bymanipulation of the locking member 30 through the agency of the tab 5D.

If desired, the field of operation can be illumihated by means of thesource of light rays I 8 which is inserted from the rear into thethrough opening I6, the carrier or socket I1 being moved until the bulbI8 reaches the proper location. It is to be understood, of course, thatthe extensions 26 and 24 are depressed relative to the arcuate shapedopening I5 so that these parts which are metallic cannot come intocontact with the socket I1 which is also metallic. To insure that suchcontingency cannot arise, the member I2 is provided with lingers 10 and1I which are adapted 'I0 to fit in the cavity of member II on theopposite sides of the wall 38 at the region indicated by the referencecharacter 33'. These fingers 10 and 1I engage the extensions 26 and 24respectively substantially at this point so that the respective u fidisockets are held in proper place in their chambers and the extensions 2tand 24 are held depressed relative to the wall of the arcuate shapedopening it. in order that the member il' can be held in place againstadventitlous removal, a resilient member it oi some good insulatingmaterial such as rubber is positioned in matched recesses in themembers. ii and i2. The recesses are so positioned that the member l5protrudes partially into the through opening it so that the'surface cithe socket member il! will come into contact therewitii. A l

From the Jforegoing, it will be apparent that the present deviceprovides a new type of handle ior cautery electrodes and the like, whichtype or handle possesses advantages not present in types heretoioreused. The handle initially has been designed to ilt most comfortably thehand oi the user, hence the shape closely resembling the shape ci a partci an automatic pistol. The socket arrangement in the handle makespossible the use of cautery electrodes in either one of two positions,in one oi which the plane passing through the two prongs of theelectrodeis substantially parallel with the top of the barrel'part ot'the handle and in the other of which this plane is at right angles tothe top of the barrel portion oi the handle. With these two positionsavailable, it will be apparent that one or the 7' other thereof willserve to meet practically any situation arising. Moreover, the specialswitch arrangement provides an efdcient trigger-like contact memberwhich can be easily moved to circuit closing position to energize theelectrode in any of its relative positions. Likewise the lockingarrangement hereinbeiore described makes possible the use of theinstrument without maintaining pressure by the operator to keep theswitch closed.

ein yacldltlcuial feature present in this device comprises thearrangement by which the area under treatment is properly illuminated,if desited, at all times. As shown in the drawings, the through openingiii is inclined relative to the axis oi the sockets so that the rays oflight directed :from the bulb it will be focused at a point somewhat inadvance of the end of the handle. This point of focus ordinarily will besubstantially coincident with the energized tip of the cauteryinstrument. Of course, thev light arrangement can be dispensed with ifdesired but the presence thereof at all times does not interfere withthe use of the instrument since the conductor cable for the source oflight rays is seated in a recess in the socket part of the handle and isretained therein by a spring clip.

The handle herein shown possesses a special merit that electrodes can beused in connection therewith in various positions as before explained.For example, if the electrodey indicated at 90 (Fig. 1) has a thin atheating element as shown at 9|, it may be desirable to manipulate thiselement to simulate a cutting action. Under some circumstances it willbe desirable to move the cutting element vertically relative to thehandle as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or it may be desirable to movethe element horizontally relative to the handle (shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1). In either position the energization of the element isaccomplished in the manner before set forth.

While the switch arrangement including the actuator has been describedin' connection with the preferred form, it is to be understood thatother arrangements combining the switchmechanism and actuator can beused. The requisites are that the switch and actuator be of suchcharacter as to permit closing of the switch by finger control, togetherwith an arrangement in which the switch can be held closed either bysustained nger pressure or by some locking arrangement which obviatesthe necessity for sustaining 'lnger pressure. 'Various types ofmechanism obviously will accomplish these purposes.

it is to be understood that the invention is capable of modificationbeyond the embodiment illustrated in view or which any limitationsthereupon are to be such only as are set forth in the following claims.

l. A device of the character described com prising a handle made up ofcomplemental portions secured together, said hand-le having a pluralityof chambers therein, electric sockets in said chambers for the receptionof the prongs of a cautery electrode in any one of a plurality ofpositions relative to said handle, said handle being provided withopenings alined with said sockets yfor the passage o said prongs, saidopenings passing through` insulating material in front of and shieldingsaid sockets, and means for controlling the supply of electric energy tosaid sockets.

2. A device of the character described comprising a handle made up ofcomplemental portions secured together, said handle having chamberstherein, electric sockets in said chambers for the reception 01"' theprongs of a cautery electrode, a spring contactlmernber movably mountedin said handle for controlling the iow oi current to said sockets, atriggerdike contact actuator secured to said handle, and means forlocking said trigger-like actuator in engagement with said springcontact and in position closing an electric circuit through a cauteryelectrode held by said sockets.

3. A device ot the character described comprising a handle made up ofcomplemental portions secured together, said handle having chamberstherein, electric sockets in said chambers for the reception of theprongs of a cautery electrode, said handle having a through openingtherein beneath said chambers and a light bulb carrier removably securedin said through opening.

Ll. A device of the character described comprising a handle made up ofcomplemental portions secured together, said handle having chamberstherein, electric sockets in said chambers for the reception of theprongs of a cautery electrode, said handle having a through openingtherein beneath said chambers, a light bulb carrier removably secured insaid through opening, said light carrier having conductors connectedthereto, said handle having a recess extending downwardly from saidthrough opening along one edge of said handle to receive saidconductors.

5. A device of the character described comprising a handle made up ofcomplemental portions secured together,r said handle having chamberstherein, electric sockets inl said chambers for the reception of theprongs of a cautery electrode, said sockets being arranged substantiallyin triangular relation whereby a cautery electrode can be held in eitherone of two positions relative to the handle, said handle being providedwith openings alined with said sockets for the passage of said prongs,said openings passing through insulating material in front of andshielding said sockets, a single switch in said handle for controllingthe supply of energy to a cautery electrode held in any one of itsrelative positions, a

switch actuator secured to 'said handle, and means for locking saidactuator in switch closing position.

6. A device of the character described comprising a handle made up ofcomplemental portions secured together, said handle having chamberstherein, electric sockets .in said chambers for the reception of theprongs of a cautery electrode, said sockets being arranged substantiallyin tri- 10 angular relation whereby a cautery electrode can be held ineither one o1' two positions relative to the handle, said handle beingprovided with a through opening beneath said sockets, and n. light bulbcarrier removably secured in said through opening, said throughopening;r extending at suchvinclination as to cause the projection oflight rays from a bulb carried thereby toward the remote end of 'acautery electrode in any of its relative positions.

WALTER A. ARNESEN.

